Beauty? What’s that? I personally don’t spend my time focusing on the way I appear to others. While others might be raving about the new collection of makeup or fashion line, I’m interested in other topics. I don’t look at the latest magazines, and I don’t search to follow the latest trend. I’m not saying that it is wrong to love makeup and focus on your looks. I’m just saying I’m just not that interested in it myself.

Over complicated thoughts about beauty, and having obsessive thoughts about following the latest beauty trend is detrimental to your health, and research shows that. Teen Futures Media Network claims that a study of girls aged 9 to 10, 40% have tried to lose

weight, according to an ongoing study funded by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. Focusing too much of your time may also lead to an empty wallet. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, there has been “Nearly 64 cosmetic surgery patients in 2014 that were aged 13-19.”Many believe that the number will inevitably rise. It is no undoubted fact that cosmetic surgeries will be a hefty weight on someone’s bank account.

The Before and After of plastic surgery. Source: Creative Commons

Some people might not approach you with the nicest manner and may throw insults about the way you look. That will not, however, change my attitude whatsoever. Media’s perception of beauty will always change, and people like me are aware like that. What’s most important is that I feel beautiful and confident, and there is nothing that will change that fact. So why waste my time on something so insufficient?

Scenario 2:

I don’t necessarily think that it is bad to focus on my outer appearance. I think it is worthwhile to invest in myself and make sure to look the best that I can whenever I want to. People should have the choice to be invested in their beauty and makeup or just be comfortable without. It is in everyone’s freedom of what to do, but I believe in moderation. A person shouldn’t be too extreme, as it can cause negative effects. My value and worth doesn’t solely rely on beauty; rather I use beauty as a tool of daily life. As Dr. Devens, the school psychologist says, it is important to think about “what a person is ultimately deriving their worth from”. This might be different for everyone, whether that be a person’s ethical values, or their perception of their beauty. In my case, it is the balance of both. I won’t be totally uninterested to makeup, but that doesn’t mean that makeup will be my everything.

Scenario 3:

Appearance is everything. We perceive only what we see, so looks must constitute life. I wake up in the morning three hours before I catch the bus so that I can put my face on. No makeup? No school– it’s simple. When someone looks at me, right away I think there’s something wrong with my face, or maybe there’s a taint on my uniform or the way I walk is weird. When I die, please put a mirror in my coffin.

Daily essentials for makeup. Source: Creative Commons

People can be superfluously obsessed with appearance. As everyone knows, this obsession can escalate to something detrimental such as eating disorders, dangerously low self-esteem or depression. Why do we care? Many think that the media is the big culprit behind this phenomenon; however, media is merely a reflection of what people at the moment want and desire. If people all don’t care about beauty and image, media and industries wouldn’t spend so much money and time advertising and talking about beauty.

Don’t tell people who care about beauty, however, to just stop caring about appearance. If it was that simple, why would they sacrifice sleep to groom themselves when the sun isn’t even up? It is important to remember and reach out when once people look into a mirror and fail to see an accurate representation of themselves, it is time to step back from the mirror.

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Author: Jennifer Jung

Jennifer Jung is a senior this year, and it is her second year as a reporter for the Eye. Even though she is originally from Korea, she has been in Singapore since she was five. This is her 11th year at SAS. Some of her hobbies include reading, watching movies, hanging out with friends, as well as sleeping. She can be contacted at jung20163@sas.edu.sg.
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